My first baby doll

Allison went with mom and grammie to get her first baby doll!

She had to carry it in her lap through the store.

Is this a smile of happiness or what?

Then it had to be unwrapped in the parking lot.

And it's time for a nap on the way home!

Piggy Tails...Necklaces...Shopping Bags?

Well Allison has discovered pony tails, piggy tails and jewelry. And all at the ripe age of 16 months. Wait is that a shopping bag she is getting into?

Here she is sporting her piggy tails... very proudly I must say.

Pony tails with bows?

Oh no, here we start with the big smiles associated with a full shopping bag!

Jewelry too?

Now I have to wear them too?



As long as I contnue to get this how can I refuse?

Helping Build the Patio

Allison has been helping with the construction of our new patio. She is very interested in playing in the sand and spreading the straw over the new grass seed.

You can see she is learning how to pull the straw from the bail.

At the rate we were going it was going to take all evening. She likes to pull one piece, investigate it and then throw it. That is 100 percent focus right there!

Would you like to help?

Oh wait, we have a wall to climb on. I think we are done spreading straw around.

Oh my we are finshed!!

Whew!!!!!!!!!!!! It is hard work being a helper.

Showing Aunt Nancy the Town

This morning we decided we should show Aunt Nancy what we enjoy about our hometown. To do this, we needed to check the air pressure on our bikes and grab our helmets!

First, Allison has to run around the driveway with her PJ's and sunglasses on. Meanwhile, I have replaced two bike tubes in Darlene's rear tire. Whew, third one is a charm; bikes are ready to go!

Then, it is into the bike seat for some cruising. Notice the cool orange helmet with little monsters on it!

One last check to make sure everything is secure for our little girl.

Here we are in the "mandatory" family photo before we take off out the driveway.

Allison, Mom and Aunt Nancy get a little photo op. in before the ride begins.

Bike riding really wears us out!

But wait... with a quick pit stop only Nascar can compete with, the bikes are put away, waters are grabbed and we are off to the Baltimore Farmers Market for some fresh fruit and veggies! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....crepes, fresh local coffee, black raspberries, blueberries, and cherries, OH MY!!!!!!!!!!

As I write this, the girls have decided they needed to take a break with some shopping over at Arundel Mills... how long can they go like this!

Cookout with Edwin!

Edwin, Aunt Mary, Uncle Steve, Grandmom and Grandad came by to cookout yesterday afternoon. Edwin and Allison like to play in the pool when they get together.

They have different perspectives on how to play in the pool, inside the pool or outside, but they both like to smack on the water and stir it up!

Wait...Wait... Is that Allison that has learned to sit in the water? I think it is!

After a serious swim session it's time to lounge in the Adirondack.

Then its into the air conditioning for a little bit of relaxing!

Chocolate Cake Time!!!!!!!

Allison got to make a cake with Grammie and Mom this past weekend! Grammie had to help her stir the mix of course! Mom says diaper only with chocolate in the area and a baby with a spoon.

She wasn't too into the stirring part.

And she wasn't too sure about that dark gooey stuff either.

But wait... hmmm... this stuff tastes pretty good!

Wait... this stuff tastes really good! And I can leave the spoon on the table and just lick it from there! This is genius!

All gone!